THE mother of 14-year-old Eighth of May Secondary School student Stefon Benn, of Lot 157 Hoppie Street, Dartmouth, Essequibo Coast, wants police to speed up investigations into his severe beating by a 21-year-old man. Mrs. Dorcie Benn said his assailant, also from Dartmouth, broke one of her son’s knees and has since left the village and is somewhere in Georgetown.
The woman said her son’s dreams of becoming an athlete to represent his country on the international stage is now shattered because of his damaged knee into which pieces of steel have to be fixed.
According to her, the teenager had previously represented Region 2 (Pomeroon/Supenaam) at the national level several times in athletic competitions and did the region proud.
The lad, whose knee is in plaster, told the Guyana Chronicle that the assault took place last December 17 while he was attending a vacation Bible class at Dartmouth Full Gospel Church.
He recalled that he was talking to a friend on the public road when his named attacker emerged from a yard and ordered him to move on.
He said he rebuked the older man about wanting to take advantage on him and the latter rushed towards him, causing him to run across the roadway, narrowly escaping being hit by a passing motor car.
Dundas said the six-footer pursued, grabbed and put him in a vice around the neck, before dragging him into the yard where he lives. There he lifted and dropped him to the ground several times before stamping him about his body with heavy boots.
The injured lad said he could not move and was helpless when the man pulled him out of the yard and threw him at the roadside where he was left unconscious.
Stefon’s mother said she was told that the mother and father of the man who beat her son came out from their home and looked at him but did not offer any assistance.
However, he was rescued by two friends who rushed him to Suddie Hospital, from where he was transferred to Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) and remained there for three weeks.
Up to now, he is unable to attend school and cannot walk properly but his attacker has gone into hiding.
Meanwhile, reports were made to the Welfare Department and Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) at Anna Regina, on the Essequibo Coast, as well.